Vestibular System
- Responsible for balance, posture & orientation of the body in space
- Can be caused by; hypothyroidism, perforated ear drum, ear infection, trauma, tumours
CLINICAL SIGNS: Head tilt, Ataxia, Circling, Nystagmus, Rolling or falling over, Vomiting, Lethargy
TREATMENT & NURSING CARE: Safe, padded environment, Meds, Assisted walking/toileting
Status Epilepticus
- Continuous seizure lasting more than 5 series or multiple seizures without full recovery between episodes
EMERGENCY - can lead to permanent brain damage, hypoglycaemia, hyperthermia
TRIAGE: General health, Signalment, Trauma, Medication, Toxic ingestion?? Is this the 1st seizure?? Details of seizure
TREATMENT & NURSING CARE: Appropriate environment, Constant monitoring: TPR, mentation, neuro exam (likely to be hyperthermic), IV access, Blood sample, Blood glucose monitoring, Medication, O2 therapy
LONG TERM CARE OF EPILEPTIC PATIENT: Commitment to regular medication - life long treatment required - Medication aims to raise seizure threshold - Regular blood tests needed - Side effects common (drowsiness, ataxia etc)
E-Cuniculi
Protozoal infection seen in rabbits
Targets the brain & kidneys
Licensed treatment & prevention available
Shed in the urine
CLINICAL SIGNS: Head tilt, Hind limb paresis / paralysis, Tremors, Convulsions, Urinary incontinence, Cataracts
Senile Cognitive Dysfunction
- Has been linked to Alzheimers or dementia in humans
CLINICAL SIGNS: DISHA (disorientated, interact less, sleep pattern disturbed, house training lost, altered activity level)
Vocalise more, appear restless
MANAGEMENT: Meds = Propentofylline (vivtonin), Selegiline (Selgain), Aktivait
Diet = high in antioxidants
Environmental enrichment ‘use it or lose it’ (puzzle games etc)
VNs play a vital role in supporting clients
Invertebrate Disc Disease
- Pressure on the spinal cord results in either complete or partial loss of voluntary movement
- Type 1 - disc extrusion = nucleus pulposus herniates due to a change to the gelatinous consistency
- Common in chondrodystrophic disease like bassets, but common in beagles & GS etc
Acute cause - Type 2 - disc protrusion = whale disc becomes more fibrous and moves into spinal cord space
- Common in older dogs, Due to degeneration, Seen in non-chondrodystrophic breeds
CLINICAL SIGNS: Pain (hunched back, shivering, panting, unwillingness to move, stiff), Proprioceptive deficits (e.g. knuckling, urine/faecal incontinence), Loss of skin sensation, Loss of deep pain, Reflexes absent, Urinary/faecal incontinence
Limit movement until diagnosis is made
CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT: Suitable for dogs with a low grade. Strict cage rest, Analgesia, Physiotherapy, Nursing care (turning to prevent pressure sores etc), Manual expression of the bladder
If these don’t work then surgery is recommended
Canine Degenerative Myelopathy
- Progressive loss of nerve function
- A genetic component lading to a reduction in antioxidants
- Due to degeneration of axons and demyelination
- Affects dog older than 5 but commonly seen in dogs over 8 years old
CLINICAL SIGNS: Ataxia, Paresis, Paralysis of hind limbs, Loss of control of urination / defecation
MANAGEMENT: No treatment, just management (assisted walking, slings, physio/hydrotherapy), QOL assessment tools
NURSING CARE OF THE SPINAL PATIENT: Urinary faecal management, Barrier creams , Regular washing and drying, Deep absorbent bedding, turning regular to prevent hypostatic pneumonia, Support to walk (sling), Analgesia ,Regular pain scoring, Delivering physio, Accurate records of patients movements, Eating well - appropriate nutrition, Stress free environment, TLC, Regular monitoring (TPR etc)
